XARK 3.0

Xark began as a group blog in June 2005 but continues today as founder Dan Conover's primary blog-home. Posts by longtime Xark authors Janet Edens and John Sloop may also appear alongside Dan's here from time to time, depending on whatever.

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Thursday, July 17, 2008

An energy plan we can believe in

There are times in the history of our nation when
our very way of life depends upon dispelling illusions and awakening to
the challenge of a present danger. In such moments, we are called upon
to move quickly and boldly to shake off complacency, throw aside old
habits and rise, clear-eyed and alert, to the necessity of big changes.
Those who, for whatever reason, refuse to do their part must
either be persuaded to join the effort or asked to step aside. This is
such a moment.

“Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing
100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean
carbon-free sources within 10 years. This goal is achievable,
affordable and transformative. It represents a challenge to all
Americans – in every walk of life: to our political leaders,
entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and to every citizen.”

Well. There's a simple, visionary plan from a guy whose life has earned him the credibility and stature to propose it: Reverse the trend in carbon emissions, end our dependency on foreign oil (thereby changing our relationship to the Middle East) and kick start our economy with new industries, new products, new services, new public works projects.

We rallied around Kennedy's call to put a man on the moon in 10 years and to do other grand things, "because they are hard." Well, we've got a better reason to do this: Because it's going to save our sorry asses.

Sure, we'll have the usual people telling us this is just more stupid libtard stuff. And to put it bluntly, screw 'em. They've had their time, and they blew it.

Anyway, I've just started a group at MyBarackObama.com to encourage the explicit adoption of this challenge. I'll post the URL as soon as it gets processed.

Obama responds:

“For decades, Al Gore has challenged the skeptics in Washington on
climate change and awakened the conscience of a nation to the urgency
of this threat. I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we
cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track
investments in renewable sources of energy like solar power, wind power
and advanced biofuels, and those are the investments I will make as
President. It’s a strategy that will create millions of new jobs that
pay well and cannot be outsourced, and one that will leave our children
a world that is cleaner and safer.”